Invasive Species Action at Crossroads

The ash trees at Crossroads at Big Creek are turning their leaves. Some are golden, some are purple – all are beautiful. Ash trees went unnoticed until the news came out that the emerald ash borer had been found in Wisconsin, and recently, there has been some news that beech trees are vulnerable to insect and fungal damage.

With dismay, it has been learned that beech bark disease has been found in Door County. In fact, more invasives are coming into the Great Lakes Region every year.

The Door County Invasive Species Team (DCIST) is a group of natural resource professionals and interested public members that are concerned with preserving Door County’s natural environment. DCIST is planning a meeting on Monday, October 12 at 2 pm. The group will discuss the recently passed Chapter NR 40, Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Identification, Classification and Control Rule which was created to help citizens learn to identify and minimize the spread of plants, animals and diseases that can invade our lands and waters and cause significant damage.

Crossroads (with the help of DCIST) is also battling buckthorn and phragmites, and the public is invited to join in “buckthorn parties” at Crossroads every Friday in October beginning at 9 am. People who volunteer to help with invasive remediation are more likely to recognize problem plants in their own properties.

For more information about Crossroads at Big Creek or these programs, please call 920.746.5895.